Experimental study/review  (Medical/biological Study)

Cellular effects of electromagnetic fields. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effects of 50 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields (caused by power lines and electric devices) and 872 MHz or 900 MHz radiofrequency fields (emitted by mobile phones and their base stations) on cellular ornithine decarboxylase activity, cell cycle kinetics, cell proliferation, and necrotic or apoptotic cell death.
Background/further details:
UV radiation, serum deprivation, or fresh medium addition were used as co-exposures.
The study summarizes previous published (see publication 10487 and publication 6742) and unpublished data of the authors work on different cell culture systems and compares the results to those of similar other studies.

Endpoints

• cell function: ornithine decarboxylase activity
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell cycle kinetics, cell proliferation, apoptosis

Exposure
General category: mobile communication system, GSM, 50/60 Hz (AC), power transmission line

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 900 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 1 to 24 h	SAR: 6 W/kg max value (0.2-6 W/kg)
field 2: 900 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 1 to 24 h	SAR: 6 W/kg max value (0.2-6 W/kg)
field 3: 872 MHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 1 to 24 h	SAR: 6 W/kg max value (0.2-6 W/kg)
field 4: 872 MHz continuous wave (CW) exposure duration: continuous for 1 to 24 h	SAR: 6 W/kg max value (0.2-6 W/kg)
field 5: 50 Hz exposure duration: continuous for 7 h	magnetic flux density: 120 µT (± 5 µT)

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)
mammalian cell lines (L929, SH-SY5Y, C6, primary rat astrocytes)
yeast cell strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• cell function: ornithine decarboxylase activity (release of ¹⁴C-labelled CO₂ from ¹⁴C-labelled L-ornithine)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell cycle kinetics (propidium iodide stain); cell proliferation (Almar Blue assay (for mammalian cells and CFU (for yeast)); necrotic or apoptotic cell death (caspase-3 acitivity & annexin/propidium iodide stain; flow cytometry)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The data on cell cycle kinetics suggest different delay times in "UV + magnetic field"-exposed yeast cells compared with UV-only exposed yeast cells. Magnetic field exposure may slow down the recovery of yeast cells from growth delay caused by UV damage.
There were no clear effects of radiofrequency exposure alone on ornithine decarboxylase activities, although there seemed to be cell type specificity.
Cell proliferation induced by medium change was slightly increased by radiofrequency irradiation. Additionally, a GSM-modulated radiofrequency increased UV-induced apoptosis in yeast cells (this effect seemed to be modulation specific).
In conclusion, magnetic fields and radiofrequency fields seem to have some effects on cellular growth and cell death mechanisms. These effects are clearly revealed only when cells are co-exposed with a known damaging agent.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, review , full/main study)

Study funded by

• Finnish Graduate School of Environmental Health (SYTYKE)
• Finnish mobile phone manufacturers and operators
• GSM Association, UK/Ireland
• Imatran Voima Foundation, Finland
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland
• Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), Belgium
• Tekes (National Technology Agency), Finland

• by  Janssens JP

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